He Almost GAVE UP | The Joey Mullen Interview

In this episode of Loyal To The Craft, Joey Mullen (drummer for Hayley Williams and percussionist for Paramore) sits down with Mike Ciprari for a real conversation about the unseen path to a “dream gig.” Joey breaks down how a single decision - going to a show in Nashville - led to meeting Zac Farro, drum teching, and eventually earning a spot on stage as Paramore’s percussionist. He also gets honest about the seasons where music stopped being fun, stepping away from drums for years, and how letting go of pressure actually opened doors. We also talk about the realities of being a hired musician: being a good hang, reading the room, knowing your worth, and why more transparency would help everyone in the industry. In this episode: - How Joey landed in the Paramore/Hayley camp (and why it “came out of the blue”) - Teching + playing at the same time (and what happens when everything breaks mid-show) - Taking breaks, losing the spark, and finding your way back to playing - “Good hang” vs. skill - what actually keeps you on gigs - Knowing your worth as a hired player (and why you shouldn’t undercut the whole market) If you’re an emerging musician trying to build a sustainable career, this one’s a reminder: success isn’t linear - but being prepared, being a good person, and staying open to opportunity changes everything. This conversation is fueled by DistroKid, the easiest way to get your music on Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok, YouTube, and more. Keep 100% of your royalties.

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